Political Philosophy for James R. Goetz

Candidate for
United States Representative; District 13

For the past 10 years, Americans have been struggling to define our role in the post-cold war world. From the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the presence of a single powerful antagonist provided a focus for American foreign and domestic policy. Today, we are unsure what our world role should be and our domestic affairs are in disarray. Abroad, we have trouble identifying where our national security interests lie. At home, there are serious problems with education, with social security, with health care, with small businesses, and with the nation's intelligence and defense structure. Still the current administration and many in the congress cling to the same approaches and attitudes that for the last 20 years of a Democrat-lead Congress have failed to provide lasting solutions.

We need new approaches and attitudes to move forward. Defining America's world role requires a national consensus that can only be achieved by free and open discussion. Instead of politicians who are lead by daily media polls, we need leaders who have the:

• Prudence to listen to all of their constituents,
• Boldness to propose solutions,
• Strength to forge public consensus,
• Skill to act with wisdom and restraint, and the
• Courage to accept responsibility for their actions.